BC annual climate report for 2024
This report provides a summary of British Columbia (BC)’s average climate conditions in 2024 using two key indicators: average temperature and total precipitation from ERA5-Land hourly dataset.
BC temperature in 2024
In 2024, the average annual temperature in BC increased by 0.96°C, ranking it as the 8th warmest year on record since 1950 (Figure 1). Globally, 2024 was the warmest year ever recorded; however, in BC, the warmest year remains 2023, which saw an average temperature increase of 2.15°C. Notably, seven of the ten warmest years in BC have occurred since 2010 (Table 1) .
The temperature increase in 2024 varied across regions, with the Southern and Central Interior BC experiencing the most significant rises (approximately 2°C), while the Coastal and Northeastern region observed relatively smaller increases (Figure 2). The year began with a cooler-than-average January (0.38°C lower than normal) but ended with an exceptionally warm December, with some areas recording temperatures more than 7°C above normal (Figure 3). May and June were relatively cooler than average, while July, August, and September experienced above-average temperatures.
Between 1950 (1980) and 2024, BC’s average temperature rose significantly, increasing by 2.21°C (1.07°C).
| Year | Rank | Warming (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 2.15 |
| 2015 | 2 | 1.64 |
| 2016 | 3 | 1.41 |
| 1987 | 4 | 1.19 |
| 2004 | 5 | 1.11 |
| 2013 | 6 | 1.05 |
| 2005 | 7 | 0.96 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0.96 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0.69 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0.69 |
| 1998 | 11 | 0.69 |
| 1981 | 12 | 0.68 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0.62 |
| 1993 | 14 | 0.59 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0.57 |
BC precipitation in 2024
Overall, precipitation levels in BC did not deviate substantially from the normal in 2024, with a slight decrease of 2.7% relative to the 1981-2010 climatological average. This marks a continuation of the declining total precipitation observed since 2022 (Figure 4). However, there was considerable spatial variability across the province. Northwestern BC experienced a reduction in precipitation exceeding 30%, while the central Interior recorded increases of up to 25% (Figure 5).
Seasonally, the year began with below-normal precipitation in January (4% decrease), February (14% decrease), and March (41% decrease). Although May and June were wetter then normal, drier-than-average conditions continue again in July (21% decrease) and August (15% decrease) however with notable spatial variability (Figure 6).
The information presented here complements the detailed insights available in the BC Climate Anomaly Shiny App. For a more detailed breakdown of seasonal and monthly climate trends in BC, we encourage you to explore the app. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the author.
Disclaimer: This report has been prepared using ERA5-Land data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), as available at the time of preparation. Please note that the original data may be subject to updates or revisions. Any modifications to the original data may result in adjustments to the findings presented in this report.